FASHION HARMONY

In Toronto’s Integral House, undulating lines of architecture mirror the whimsical designs of Louis Vuitton’s 2019 Cruise collection.

Nicolas Ghesquière is known for finding exquisite settings to showcase his collections for Louis Vuitton. There’s always a harmonious link to architecture and nature that is echoed in his designs. The artistic director would appreciate the harmonic influences that inspired Integral House in Toronto, where we shot these looks from his 2019 Cruise collection. The home, which was owned by mathematician James Stewart, has undulating lines that mirror the river valley below as well as the silhouettes in these looks.

The collection was shown in May at the Fondation Maeght—a private art foundation in Saint-Paul de Vence. The space has works from surrealists like Marc Chagall, Joan Miró and Alexander Calder. Before entering the main building, I remember stopping to take photos of Calder’s angular abstract sculpture entitled

The Reinforcements (Les renforts). It was an apt reference for Ghesquière’s fifth Cruise collection for LV. The designer—whose contract has been renewed—brought a new sense of whimsy to the house. This included the added “reinforcement,” or collaboration, with Grace Coddington.

The pair created a collection of accessories that blend the LV monogram with Coddington’s sketches of her cats Pumpkin and Blanket as well as Ghesquière’s dogs Léon and Achille. Ghesquière told WWD that he was drawn to the former Vogue creative director’s quirky persona. “This cruise show is about eccentricity for me,” he said. “It’s about how an individual can have her own proper style and can start a movement.”

Aside from these “catnip” pieces, which will be in stores in October, Ghesquière brought his own quirky take on personal style, from his thigh-high Archlight sneaker boots to his gladiator-like ruffled vests. As a counterpoint to the streetwear vibe (think sequined bombers and acidwashed hand-painted denim jackets), there were embroidered and beaded lingerie-like shifts and shorts. To complete this imaginative fashion mash-up, Ghesquière added pleated diaphanous gowns and feathered tops. Perhaps the designer—like the other surrealist artists in that setting—gave his unconscious mind creative licence to imagine his own swirling and dreamy abstract creations.